In Dota 2, skill is measured by MMR. It is a dynamic metric, meaning it increases with wins in ranked matches and decreases with losses. The primary goal is to create balanced games, because in unranked matches, as a beginner, you might be matched with more experienced players. The rating system limits access of higher-skilled players to your matches.

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What is MMR in Dota 2

Matchmaking Rating is the main measure of player skill in Dota 2, affecting not only your skill perception but also your overall gameplay experience. The change mechanics are simple: for each win or loss, you gain or lose between 10 to 30 MMR. The higher your rating, the more skilled you are considered to be. Very often, players with high ratings are recruited into professional teams—Alan "Satanic" Gallyamov, for example, rose this way.

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The core MMR system has remained unchanged—you just play games and either increase or decrease your rating. Over time, Valve tried to adapt the system to a more universal format, bringing it closer to models like League of Legends and Overwatch.

What are Dota 2 Rankings

Just like in all games that involve player competition, Dota 2 has a ranking system. Additionally, there is a leaderboard based on rank or numerical rating. In Dota, this ranking is divided into four regions: America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and China. Each region has its own top 100 players list.

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The higher the player's MMR, the better their mechanical skill and the deeper their game understanding. Even the difference between a player at Archon rank and one at Ancient is massive, though they’re separated by just one step—Legend.

Currently, the top player in the Europe region is Mark "Mangekyou" Kharlamov with 17,000 MMR. But as Danil "Dendi" Ishutin once said MMR is just a number.

How to Unlock Ranked Matchmaking

Ranked matchmaking becomes available after 100 hours of gameplay—this time should be spent in normal or turbo matches.

✅ During this period, you will learn the basics:

  • Farming and last-hitting creeps
  • Item builds and map control
  • Hero roles and tower functions

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By the time ranked mode unlocks, you’ll have found a comfortable role and a suitable hero pool, avoiding overly complex characters.

Dota 2 MMR Calibration

By playing 10 matches, your average rating is determined based on your win/loss ratio. Generally, all aspects of gameplay are taken into account during calibration: kills, deaths, assists, as well as gold income and creep score. Think of it as an honors exam—during these 10 games, you need to perform at your best, even if you lose.

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In addition, Dota 2 periodically undergoes rating resets, after which you can recalibrate your MMR and potentially increase (or decrease) your numerical value. If there’s no global reset, you still have the option to reset your rating manually once per year and go through calibration again.

For ranked games, you should avoid playing complex heroes. Choose those you’re confident with. If you’ve practiced a hero in unranked games or it fits the current patch’s meta, confidently pick it and aim to win. The more victories during calibration, the higher your rank will be.

Dota 2 Rankings

Dota 2’s ranking system isn’t just numbers—it’s a detailed scale that accurately reflects your progress in mastering the game. Each medal is divided into 5 stars, each representing around 150–200 MMR. To move to the next rank, you must earn all 5 stars. Unlike other games, there are no separate qualification matches for rank advancement.

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📋 Here’s a list of all Dota 2 ranks and their corresponding MMR:

  • Herald 1 to 616 MMR
  • Guardian 770 to 1386 MMR
  • Crusader 1540 to 2156 MMR
  • Archon 2310 to 2926 MMR
  • Legend 3080 to 3696 MMR
  • Ancient 3850 to 4466 MMR
  • Divine 4620 to 5420 MMR
  • Immortal a special rank for players who surpass Divine. Their rating is shown as a number next to the “Immortal” label.

Immortal Draft

On March 20, 2025, Valve made major changes to the Immortal Draft system—a mode designed for Dota 2’s elite. It differs from regular ranked matches by using a team distribution system, where two team captains are automatically selected at the start of a match and take turns picking teammates.

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❗ Here are the main changes:

  • The number of players in this mode was reduced due to a new minimum rating requirement—now at least 8,500 MMR, up from the previous 6,500 MMR.
  • Matches in this mode can no longer be viewed live in DotaTV. Match histories cannot be viewed either, and replays are only available to the participants.
  • To start a game, you must register your official nickname, which will always be displayed in this mode. If you change it, the new name will only appear in other matches.
  • Playing with friends in this mode is prohibited. It’s now strictly a solo queue mode, where you’ll be matched against other solo players.

Starting from scratch in Dota 2 is a true challenge, demanding patience, analytical thinking, and a constant willingness to learn. But it's precisely on this journey that the most determined players shine. If you’re ready to invest the effort, sooner or later you’ll gain access to ranked matches—and a whole new level of competitive experience will open up.

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